Ali Lauitiiti touched down twice in the closing stages but Leeds were made to settle for a second-place finish.

The Rhinos could not rack up the big win they needed to have even the faintest chance of overturning St Helens.

Instead they will travel to Knowsley Road in a fortnight to battle it out for the first spot in the Super League Grand Final.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan paid tribute to Saints' consistency and said: "Well done to Saints. When we dipped, they kicked into gear."

He described the battle with Wakefield as "a tough game" adding: "They really tested us."

Trinity were level after an hour and Leeds had good fortune to thank for the try that finally broke Wakefield's resistance.

Kevin Sinfield's towering kick bounced off Scott Grix's shoulder and fell into Lauitiiti's grasp. Then Lauitiiti flopped over twice from close range to finally seal the points.

Trinity legend Don Fox was remembered with a minute's silence before kick off in a tribute to the man best known for his missed goal in the 1968 "water-splash" Challenge Cup final. Leeds were Wakefield's opponents that day and last night both sides endured similar conditions during a huge downpour.